Astro Toilets

''Skibidi Toilet'' (pronounced , ) is a machinima web series created by Alexey Gerasimov and released through YouTube videos and Shorts on his channel, '. Produced using Source Filmmaker, the series follows a war between toilets with human heads coming out of their bowls and humanoid characters with electronic devices for heads.

Since the first short was posted on 7 February 2023, ''Skibidi Toilet'' has become viral as an Internet meme on various social media platforms, particularly among Generation Alpha. Many commentators saw their embrace of the series as Generation Alpha's first development of a unique Internet culture. The show features a wide range of licensed products, and Invisible Narrative, a media company led by Adam Goodman and Michael Bay, has started producing a film adaptation.

Plot

The series depicts a conflict between Skibidi Toilets—singing human-headed toilets—and humanoids with CCTV cameras, speakers, and televisions in place of their heads. The Skibidi Toilets, led by G-Toilet, overtake humanity. Warfare soon develops between the toilets and the alliance of Cameramen, Speakermen, and TV-men, which escalates into a constant arms race. The Titan Cameraman and Titan Speakerman, strongest of their respective races, begin to turn the tide of war. However, Scientist Toilet—the Skibidi Toilets' second-in-command and R&D chief—develops a mind control parasite that overtakes Titan Speakerman, causing him to turn on the alliance and cause mass carnage in their ranks. With the aid of Titan TV-man, Titan Speakerman is cured, and an alliance force strikes at the toilets' secret underground facility, killing Scientist Toilet. The force's sole survivor, Plungerman, learns that the facility and the enigmatic and omnipresent Secret Agent were somehow involved in the toilets' creation, but the Secret Agent kills him to protect the secret.

Concurrently, relations sour between the Skibidi Toilets and the Astro Toilets, a race of powerful extraterrestrial toilets that formerly counted G-Toilet among their ranks, and the Astro Toilets invade Earth. Their power is such that neither the alliance nor the Skibidi Toilets can stand against them alone, and they form a truce against their common enemy. The Earth's surface is ravaged in the ensuing battles, and the alliance's subterranean main base is eventually compromised along with Titan TV-man, whose mind is taken over by the Astro Toilets and their field commander, the Astro Duchess. With their base destroyed, their strongest soldier turned against them, and innumerable casualties, the alliance enters into a tactical retreat with just one remaining asset, a powerful Astro Toilet weapon they hope to reverse-engineer to turn the tide of battle.

Production

''Skibidi Toilet'' is produced by Alexey Gerasimov (, born 1997 or 1998), also known by his alias "Blugray" or the name of his YouTube channel, ''DaFuq!?Boom!''. He lives in Georgia and has been learning animation since 2014. His channel has seen prior hits such as the video ''I'M AT DIP'', which accumulated over 45 million views by July 2023.

The first episode of ''Skibidi Toilet'' was released on 7 February 2023 (UTC), with an 11-second runtime. The video, titled "skibidi toilet", depicts a toilet with a man's head coming out of it singing a song that prominently features the word "skibidi". Every episode is produced using Source Filmmaker, a free Valve-published 3D computer graphics software often used to create and edit clips and movies online. Some assets used in the series are taken from video games such as ''Half-Life 2'' and '' Counter-Strike: Source''. For example, in the first episode, Skibidi Toilet features the head model of a Civilian () from ''Half-Life 2'', G-Toilet initially uses the head model of the G-Man, and the Speakermen perform dances originating from the battle royale game ''Fortnite''.

An unlicensed mashup of the songs " Give It to Me" by Timbaland and "Dom Dom Yes Yes" by Bulgarian artist Biser King, created by TikTok user @doombreaker03, appears in early episodes as the Skibidi Toilets' theme and is later invoked as their battle cry. In 2024, the two songs' publisher Universal Music Group issued copyright complaints against the full version of the mashup, causing some videos featuring the mashup to be taken down.

"Dom Dom Yes Yes" gained popularity in 2022 through viral videos of Turkish TikToker Yasin Cengiz dancing to the song holding platters of food. TikTok user Paryss Bryanne parodied this meme, complementing it with her style of jerky acting with rapid cuts. Gerasimov cites her adaptation as one of the inspirations for ''Skibidi Toilet''. In an interview, he said he was also inspired by recurring nightmares involving toilets. Ultimately, Gerasimov said that ''Skibidi Toilet''s backbone is the other machinima videos created using sandbox game ''Garry's Mod'', which were popular in the late 2000s and number in the thousands.

In the show's early days, Gerasimov uploaded at least two videos weekly (at times, even daily), though the time between episodes has since been extended to improve quality, and video lengths have increased. Since YouTube's recommendation algorithm tends to prefer frequent uploaders, the initial upload schedule may have helped the show go viral. As of January 2024, the series is reportedly being investigated by the Russian police for its alleged harm to children, following a report made by a Moscow resident. In April 2024, the videos were presented to the legislative assembly of Saint Petersburg as a demonstration in an annual children's safety report.

Reception and influence

Popularity

''Skibidi Toilet'' audience is predominantly Generation Alpha, those born since the early 2010s. While the series does not appear on YouTube Kids, an app designed for children under 13, it is popular among elementary school students. Kim Kardashian's 11-year-old daughter gave her a necklace reading "Skibidi Toilet". Many members of older generations have criticized the series as "brain rot", while other Internet users argue that the preceding Generation Z had its share of bizarre memes.

''Skibidi Toilet'' has sparked its audience to create fanworks, such as games, fan fiction, and art, as well as the Generation Alpha slang "skibidi", which has no established definition. The series has found its way into Internet memes and Instagram videos. One TikTok meme nonsensically swaps some words in song lyrics with Generation Alpha slang, including ''skibidi'', for humorous effect. Viral videos have surfaced where children sit inside containers and mimic the toilets.

Fans have expanded on the show's lore by making analysis videos and giving their theories in YouTube's comment section. There are ''Skibidi Toilet'' games on Roblox, a game platform, the two largest of which attract millions of players each month. In 2021, ''DaFuq!?Boom!'' had around one million subscribers. By November 2023, YouTube videos associated with ''Skibidi Toilet'' had accumulated over 65billion views. On TikTok, the #skibiditoilet hashtag garnered 23 billion views by July 2024.'''' In December 2023, the channel ''DaFuq!?Boom!'' had amassed 37million subscribers, experiencing rapid growth that, on occasion, had surpassed growth of MrBeast, the most subscribed channel on YouTube. ''The Washington Post'' called it "the biggest online phenomenon of the year".

According to ''Tubefilter'' rankings, by the end of April 2023, ''DaFuq!?Boom!'' entered the 50 most viewed YouTube channels in the U.S., at 33rd place. By June, the channel had gained five billion views, making it the most viewed YouTube channel in the U.S. that month. On 24 July 2024, the channel had 17 billion total views, with 16.3 billion views from February 2023 to June 2024. The channel's views have since declined, with only 374.1 million views in May 2024.

''Tubefilter'' editor Sam Gutelle noted that the channel was formerly largely under the radar except for a few "animation diehards in the meme community". ''The Daily Dot''s offshoot publication ''Passionfruit'' suspected the popularity of the series was due to how the "designs combined a simple, cute style with more uncanny elements", citing other popular characters like Sans and Siren Head.

''Skibidi Toilet'' was referenced on ''The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'', with a short parody animation depicting President Joe Biden as a Skibidi Toilet, dubbed "Skibidi Biden". ''Kotaku'' called the joke "the worst thing Stephen Colbert's ever done". One of the 250 snowplows of the Vermont Agency of Transportation was named "Skibidi Scooper", chosen by the Albany Community School.

Critical reception

The lifestyle magazine ''Dazed'' called ''Skibidi Toilet'' "frenetic, unpredictable, funny and at times genuinely unsettling." Yahoo!'s ''In The Know'' compared its animation style to that of a mobile game, with "choppy movements and exaggerated facial expressions". ''Cartoon Brew'', an animation-focused website, wrote that while ''Skibidi Toilet'' "may look rough around the edges compared to major studio fare ..there is no question that Gerasimov is a filmmaker who understands pacing, camerawork, sound design, and how to tell a story."

Many publications highlighted a viral tweet in which Twitter user @AnimeSerbia called the series Generation Alpha's Slender Man. ''Insider'' said the series exemplifies the start of a new generation gaining prominence, using the relationship between millennials and Gen Z as an example, a claim that Indy100 repeated: " en Zwill be facing the same mocking and ridicule they dished out to Millennials". ''News.com.au'' wrote that the series "is a timely reminder that Gen Alpha are on the horizon".

''The Washington Post'' noted the series' uniqueness in creating a narrative entirely out of short-form videos and YouTube's ability to stay relevant while competing with TikTok. In a guest piece for Ryan Broderick's newsletter ''Garbage Day'', Adam Bumas said the series leans into "weird internet aesthetics", creating a nostalgic element. ''Business Insider'' echoed this stance, remarking on the series' use of old video game assets.

An article by theatre firm ''The Civilians'' argued the series reflects Generation Alpha's fear of surveillance and dehumanization. Likewise, Laura Glitsos et al. argued the Cameramen represent the constant recording and 'sousveillance' Generation Alpha feels. They contend the series showcases the dystopia brought by the "monstrous digital", raising discussions about artificial life and environmental destruction. A light-hearted article on the psychoanalysis journal ''RISS'' compared the unending armies of the toilets to the inevitable return of repressed desires.

''Business Insider'' called the series "an endless arms race as both the toilets and their foes roducestronger fighters". Technology website ''Wired'' credited the show's minimal use of dialogue for removing language barriers and aiding in the show's global popularity. ''The New Yorker'' observed that whereas early episodes of the series were short in time frame and relied on jump scares from the Skibidi Toilets in the endings, later episodes were longer and often lack the signature "skibidi" song.

Several parental websites and Indonesian newspapers claimed that ''Skibidi Toilet''s violence and bizarre visuals may have a harmful effect on young children, dubbing it "Skibidi Toilet syndrome" (). ''The Guardian'' dismissed such claims as a "moral panic". ''The Daily Telegraph'' called on regulators to mandate age restrictions on online videos similar to the film industry, citing ''Skibidi Toilet'' perceived violence. Meanwhile, ''Wired'' pointed out that, while the violence is consistent, it is limited to "cartoonish explosions and punches". ''Common Sense Media'' rated the series suitable for age 14 and above.

Adaptations and licensing

On 24 July 2024, it was announced that filmmakers Adam Goodman and Michael Bay were "in talks" with Gerasimov for a movie and television series adaptation of ''Skibidi Toilet''. Goodman revealed that the adaptation may be a live-action/animation hybrid film, and that it may be stylistically similar to the ''John Wick'' and ''District 9'' franchises. The announcement was skeptically received: ''The A. V. Club'' said it would be difficult to "translate ..Internet subculture into traditional formats", and ''Gizmodo'' wrote that a movie would have to be "unfathomably expensive to present an experience that's somehow 'deluxe' to its inspiration". The magazine ''Complex'' has commented that Bay would be a perfect filmmaker for the adaptation, citing his work in the ''Transformers'' film series. In May 2025, it was announced that the film had begun production at Invisible Narratives. Despite early reports saying that Bay was directing a ''Skibidi Toilet'' film, he denied them on May 24, 2025.

The media company Invisible Narratives is run by Bay (chief creative advisor) and Goodman (CEO and founder). It has agreed to act as a brand licensing agency for Gerasimov. The company has made a licensing deal with Bonkers Toys, which is known for creating merchandise from YouTube content, to produce ''Skibidi Toilet'' toys. In 2024, Bonkers Toys released ''Skibidi Toilet'' mystery boxes and action figures in stores, including at Walmart. The National Electrical Contractors Association has been contracted to manufacture branded remote-controlled devices such as drones. American retailer Spirit Halloween has obtained a license to sell ''Skibidi Toilet'' costumes. The company said it encourages fan-run YouTube channels to create ''Skibidi Toilet'' content as long as attribution is present. On 18 December 2024, the video game ''Fortnite'' introduced items from ''Skibidi Toilet'' as purchasable cosmetics. In March 2025, Scholastic announced its partnership with Invisible Narratives to publish a series of ''Skibidi Toilet'' books.

In late 2023, a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) claim was filed against sandbox game ''Garry's Mod'', allegedly by Invisible Narratives, which said to be on Gerasimov's behalf. Garry Newman, the creator of ''Garry's Mod'', shared the alleged notice on Discord on 29 July 2024. It claimed ''Garry's Mod'' was using copyrighted ''Skibidi Toilet'' characters including "Titan Cameraman, Titan Speakerman, Titan TV man, and Skibidi Toilet" as well as that "There is absolutely no licensed Steam, Valve, Garry's Mod content related to ''Skibidi Toilet''." Gerasimov later posted that he did not send the claim, and that he was trying to contact Newman. Newman later confirmed to ''IGN'' that he and Gerasimov had been in touch and the matter had been resolved. The United States Copyright Office shows the character "Titan Cameraman" as being claimed by Invisible Narratives on 21 August 2023.

In January 2025, Invisible Narratives sued Dubai-based firm Next Level, alleging that it has fraudulently claimed and used ''Skibidi Toilet'' intellectual property as its own. Next Level registered copyrights and filed trademarks for ''Skibidi Toilet'' characters. The suit alleges Next Level has sent a fradulent DMCA takedown notice to the official YouTube channel, forcing a season compilation video to be removed and potentially putting the channel at the risk of termination. Next Level owner Sergey Osadchy claims the series plagiarized a game he developed in 2020 of the same name, though the game only began pre-orders in 2024. Invisible Narratives successfully filed a DMCA notice to Google Play to delist the game. The case is being held in California by U.S. District Judge Noel Wise, who has issued a preliminary restraining order prohibiting Next Level from issuing further copyright notices to the plaintiff.

See also

* Elsagate, a YouTube controversy
* List of Internet phenomena
* Surreal humor
* Toilet humor
* YouTube poop, a genre of humorous mashups

Notes

References

External links

Playlist of ''Skibidi Toilet''
on YouTube
*
DaFuq!?Boom!
– Alexey Gerasimov's YouTube channel
*
DaFuq!?Boom!'s YouTube stats
– by Social Blade
*

''Dexerto'' interview with Alexey Gerasimov

"Attack of the Skibidi Toilets"
– editorial cartoon by Sage Stossel for the ''Boston Globe''

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2020s YouTube series
2023 establishments in Georgia (country)
2023 in Internet culture
2023 web series debuts
Generation Alpha
Internet in Georgia (country)
Internet memes introduced in 2023
Machinima works
Surreal comedy web series
Works about toilets
Viral videos
Works about wars
2023 Georgia (country) television series debuts